6A
FEATURES
Dessert isn’t the problem
Dear Annie: My husband and them. No change. What now? —
I have both been married before, Fed Up in Florida
and our children are from our first
Dear Fed Up: It’s considerate
marriages. My husband’s daugh- of you to cook healthful meals for
ter lives close by, and she brings your family, and it was thought-
her kids to our home often, which ful of you to have a heart-to-heart
we all enjoy. The problem is that with your daughter-in-law about
this sensitive issue. Your
every time they show up
DEAR
husband might consider
— even when they know
periodically encourag-
we are preparing a meal
ANNIE
ing her to stay strong
for them, even prior to
in teaching her chil-
big holiday meals —
dren better eating habits,
they get out of their car
reminding her that she’s
with empty bags and par-
tially consumed bever-
the boss — and that her
ages from a popular fast-
children in fact need her
food chain.
to be the boss.
Lane
This drives me Annie
But in the end, there’s
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
insane! My husband
nothing you can do to
just shrugs and says that
force her to stop buy-
there’s a reason they are all over- ing fast food. The only person
weight and that nothing we say you can control is yourself. The
or do will change their behav- sooner you accept this the sooner
ior. When his daughter asked me you’ll be able to relax and enjoy
not to always make a dessert to the time with your family.
accompany our otherwise health-
Dear Annie: I must dis-
ful meals because she was wor- agree with your assessment that
ried about “how big the kids are “no problem” means the same
getting,” I had a heart-to-heart thing as “you’re welcome.” The
with her about how awful the fast phrase “no problem” carries with
food is for the kids. Her reply was it the implication that if the task
that she just can’t say “no” to her had created a “problem” for the
kids and is just too tired to cook. server (or whoever uttered it),
I told her that is why we are try- perhaps she might not have car-
ing to help by making meals for ried it out so nicely — or at all.
“You’re welcome,” on the
other hand, has a much more gra-
cious implication: that the person
would have done this task for you
no matter the cost to herself.
Words matter, and there is no
use pretending that they don’t
carry a lot of freight. Better to use
them thoughtfully. — English
Major
Dear English Major: I see no
evidence that “no problem” car-
ries that implication, but I love
a good linguistic debate, so I’m
printing your letter — followed
by a different viewpoint.
Dear Annie: “Out of Touch”
was annoyed that a popular
response to “thank you” is “no
problem.” My husband and I
were annoyed by that also, until
I realized that the traditional
replies in French are “jet’en
prie,” which is somewhat equiva-
lent to “don’t worry about it,” and
“de rien,” “of nothing.” In Span-
ish, “de nada” also means “it was
nothing.” So maybe it’s not a mil-
lennial thing. Maybe it’s cultural,
global stuff and millennials are
really sophisticated! OK, I went
too far with that. — Ann-Marie
Dear Ann-Marie: Merci
beaucoup for the language
lesson.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll learn by
listening, and it will be pleasurable learning
indeed! You’ll especially like hearing the sto-
ries of those much older or much younger
than you.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There will
be a lot of moving parts. The thing about
keeping it simple — well, that bus left weeks
ago. It’s all good, though. Your able mind will
delight in the complication and details.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). In the interest
of living fully, you’ll risk going too far. And
why not? You’ve already experienced what
it’s like not to go far enough, which is to say
it bears little to nothing in the way of results.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Being too
careful causes stumbles worse than being
reckless, so go a little mad with it today.
You can handle the squirrely parts. You’re
brilliant at that, really!
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). These gifts you
were given will go to excellent use, and it
will thrill you to share them. The best part
of the day will be spent adapting things to
fit what’s needed. Your contribution will be
essential to the success of the day.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If you
could download your body of knowledge
into the mind of a loved one and still retain
it — if that would help matters — you’d
do it in a heartbeat. But all you can do is
piece it out, little by little. It will be gratefully
received.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). It’s not fun
to go without when those around you have
plenty. And yet, you’re better for having done
this in your lifetime. You trust your instincts,
and your character is strong.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Take the day beat
by beat, the way you sing a song. You can’t
sing the next part of the song while you’re
singing the part of the song you’re on. Ap-
proach the day like this: Your whole self only
doing the part you’re on.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Making other
people happy makes you happy. And then
when they’re not, you’re not. And though you
really can’t control how other people feel,
something about the equation will really
work for you today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). To be soft and
easy is the goal. Even the toughest person
will benefit from letting go of some rigidity
now. Warmth, peace, togetherness — these
are the qualities that will rule the day.
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Knowing
what people are doing and being able to
predict their next moves will be key to figur-
ing out how to turn the day’s events in your
favor. And they should go in your favor. It will
be better for all if they do.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The events of
the day will really capture your imagination
and time-released inspiration. You’ll espe-
cially love finding out how other people do
things different from your way.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Nov. 23). More
than any other factor, pacing will determine
your success this year. Take things at the
speed you can best control, and seek peo-
ple who are moving similarly on this high-
way of life. You’ve outstanding good fortune
in business at the start of 2018. Midyear will
bring the lifestyle enhancements you crave.
Cancer and Virgo adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 28, 47, 20, 33 and 10.